10 Small Sustainable Swaps for 2021 - The Sustainability Guide

I’m not big on new year’s resolutions. Don’t get me wrong, I love goal setting, and have vision boards and lists galore. But I prefer to tackle things in smaller increments whether that be scale or time frame for what I’m trying to accomplish. So I’ve decided to share my top 10 small yet attainable, sustainable swaps I’ll be continuing or adding in 2021.

Reusable produce bags (continued)

I started using reusable produce bags in 2019 after buying some on amazon. They worked pretty well but I had misplaced most of them and recently rediscovered my bags last month. It’s so fun to whip out my reusable produce bags at the store, and see the intrigued stares as most people I encounter still use the disposable plastic options available.

2. Menstrual Cup (continued)

As I shared in a recent post, I have finally made the transition to a menstrual cup, ditching single use feminine hygiene products.

3. Silicone Food Storage Bags (new)

Ever since moving into my own place, ziplock bags haven’t been something I’ve used regularly enough to keep in stock at my house. I only purchase them on an as need basis and a box usually lasts several months. I more frequently use Pyrex or other plastic food storage containers. However, this is the year I want to add silicone food storage bags to my kitchen arsenal.

4. Beeswax or Paper Wrap (new)

I use a LOT of aluminum foil. I prep breakfast sandwiches for the week and wrap them in foil, and because I have a septic tank, I line my baking sheets in foil to capture fat to prevent it going down the kitchen sink (yes, I also have a cup of fat in the fridge already). That said, I plan to swap my foil for wrapping food with either beeswax wraps or butchers paper.

5. Microfiber Face Cloth (continued)

I got a makeup eraser microfiber face cloth in a FabFitFun box back in 2019, which made the switch from disposable cotton pads pretty easy. I still wash my face, but then use micellar water or regular faucet water with my microfiber cloth to remove the rest of my makeup.

6. SodaStream (new)

Fun story, in high school my sister actually got the first edition of the soda stream because she was working at Bed Bath and Beyond and had a discount. When she moved out of the house she left it to my parents who never used it, and gifted it to me last year. I’ve been too intimidated to use it because the carbon dioxide you have to get and the model is older, bought around 2011 or so, and I don’t know if they still make the tanks to fit. But it’s been sitting in my kitchen for about a year now, so I’m going to finally try and put it to use, to cut down on the amount of canned seltzer water I drink.

7. Bar Soap (continued)

I’ve been a liquid soap user since I can remember. It’s what I grew up with and a preference I’ve always had. I had tried barred soap in the past but couldn’t stand the sticky film like feeling it left on my skin. Well I actually started a small business making soap, lip balms, scrubs, and body butters towards the end of 2019 and have been using my own bar soap for the last 6 months. With a melt and pour base, it’s easy to customize with your favorite essential oils, colors, and supplemental ingredients.

8. Water Bladder (new)

When I have field work it can be difficult to bring enough reusable water bottles in the field because the additional weight and difficulty carrying them through dense brush or through wetlands. I often buy a pack of waters that I can keep in my vehicle for easy access. However, water bladders (e.g CamelBak) are often made to fit into the back sleeves of field packs, and can hold more water than a traditional bottle. Since I know I will have more field work this coming season, I plan to invest in one.

9. BlueLand Refillable Cleaning Products (new)

Many of us have probably seen the ads on social media for BlueLand products. They are cleaning tabs that you add to their one time bottle purchase and simply add water to. While I do currently purchase green cleaning products, I don’t have enough uses to repurpose the spray bottles. Tablet cleaning solutions I can add to bottles will help me reduce my plastic waste consumption and production.

10. Loofah or Ayate Shower Sponges (new)

I am a life long user of mesh shower fluffs, a perfect balance of softness and exfoliation. However, these products are plastic, disposable, and often harbor germs. I’ve tried wash clothes but they don’t lather as nicely, and I’ve tried brushes that are just too abrasive on my skin. However, I’ve not tried loofah products, a spongy plant, or ayate products (derived from agave plants). These plant based options are renewable and biodegradable.